HOOKSETT, N.H. — A taste of Philadelphia greeted Ohio Gov. John Kasich at a pre-election rally on Monday night.

The theme from "Rocky" blared outside of Robie's Country Store, a nearly 200-year-old establishment here that has hosted multiple presidential candidates since the 1950s.

"How do you possibly say thanks," Kasich asked.

"WIN!" came a loud response.

The enthusiasm outside Robie's was palpable. Nearly 100 Kasich supporters, many of whom were campaign volunteers with "Buckeye Brigade" hats, cheered on the governor outside in a moderate snowfall.

Kasich arrived in his campaign bus around 8:30 p.m. and only spoke briefly to the crowd, retreating inside Robie's after about 20 minutes for a television interview.

The Kasich campaign, which said the candidate did 106 town halls across New Hampshire over the last few months, is counting on the Granite State to boost the moderate's candidate's status heading into South Caroline and a string of other conservative primaries.